Raking-machine for grainers.



PATENTED MAR. 2,4

G. B. WILLCUX. RAKING MACHINE FOR GRAINBRS.

APPLIOATIO FILED MAR. 2, 1903.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES:

No. 882,727. PATENTED MAR. 24, 190s. G. B. wILLoQX. RAKING MACHINE PoR GRAINERS.

APPLIoATIoN rulnn Jun.- 2, 190s.

5 SHEBTS-SHBET 3.

G. B. w1LLo0X.-. RAKING MACHINE PoR GgAINBRs.

APPLIOATIOH FILED IAR. 2. 1903.

PATBNTED MAR. 24, 1908.

wnnissfs: l" l mvENToR PATENTE) MAR. 24,11908t G. B. WILLGOX. RAKLNG MACHINE POR GRANERS.

APPLIGATON FILED MAR. 2, 1903.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

INVENTOR ZW GEORGE WILLUOX, OF BAY ('ITY, MICHIGAN.

RAKING-MACHINE FOR GRAINERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 24, 1908.

Application led March 2, 1903. Serial No. 145,785.

T o all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORG-n' B. lVlLLoox, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bay City, in the county of Bay and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Salt-Grainers and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention is a machine for automatically raking salt from the bottoms of grainers, or for removing other substances from the bottoms of vessels similar to salt grainers.

The invention relates more particularly to that class of rakcrs commonly known as reciprocating rakes or those having an intermittent or forward-and-back movement as opposed to that class of rakers having continuous forward movement.

The invention is illustrated in the aecompanying drawings in which Figure l is a sectional elevation of the front end of a grainer, the section being taken on the line m-- of Fig. 2, the proportions of the parts being d istorted for clearness. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the arts shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional e evation of the rear end of the grainer, the section being taken on the line 9:-90 of Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the arts shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail part y broken away of two side straps and a connecting link. Fig. 6 is a front end view of a hinge ivot. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the same, and) Fig. 8 is a rear end view of the same. Fig. 9 is a detail showing the manner of mounting the scraping .blades on the straps. Fig. l0 is an enlarged section on the line ijf-y of Fig. 9, showing the scraping blade in its vertical position. Fig. 11 is a similar section showing the scraping blade in its featherin position. Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a graincr euipped with the,

raker. Fig. 13 is a longitu perspectilve view of the grainer with the front or inclined end cut away. Fig.v 14- is a transverse section of agrainer showing a laterally adjustable track. Fig. 15 is a erspective view of a telescoping scra er bla e.

As is clearly s own in the drawings the device consists in a series of transverse scraping blades (1) extending across and clearin the grainer bottom and pivotally supporte at their ends by .pulling straps (2) t at extend lengthwise the grainer. The .pulhng straps (2) lie upon fixed tracks or guldes (3) which may be of angle iron or any suitable construction, and may be carried by the grainer bottom or attached to its sides near the bottom. I have found in practice that 3x2" soft wood capped by 2x1 hard maple facing makes a cheap and durable track.

The pulling straps act as tension members both on the forward and back stroke and can therefore be made of any suitable light and inexpensive form or material. They may be made of flat steel bars connected end-to-end each vcapable of sliding as one piece/back andl The straps have ample bear forth thereon. ing surface to prevent wearing the track on which they slide.

Housings or loops (1") flanges (1") are secured at intervals along the straps by riveting or otherwise. A` projecting pin or pivot (la) is fixed to the ends of each scraper (l). side strap (2) and is loose y inclosed by the loop (1h) so as to rock freely therein. The lower or bearing surface of the pivot (ll) is so located relatively to the center of gravity of the scraper that the latter is nicely balanced and feathers readily on the back stroke.y The Scrapers (l) move freely back and forth with the straps (2), their lower edges just clearing the grainer bottom, thereby moving the salt having projecting forming a hook (2b). I The l 'lhe ivot rests on the crystals forward step-by-step from one blade l to the next until they are delivered over the incline (4') 'at the end of the grainer.v

The pivots (1") and theiscrap'ers (l) may be made of any suitable construction, but the forms illustrated in Figs'. 6 to 11 give excellent results. Scrapers (l) are built up of a steel angle (1d) to the lower flange of which is riveted a flat blade (1b). The upper flange of the angle (1") serves three useful purposes. It gives In these preferred ,"'irins the the scraper the necessary transverse stiffness y to move the load without springing-an item of considerable importance 1n wide grainers. The weight of its4 laterally projeetfinggr llange produces in thenhlade (if) natural tendenev to feather, making' the aetion oil the hlade ex f .\eriire jl v easy and pre.-

"venting ahrasion ol.' the sol'thotsalt envslals (5) (5) are eahles ol ire strand, steel rods oi' other snitahle material extemling lene'tliw ise the grainer and eonneelinjg ,the upper ends ol' the. two swine,y lranus (l) l:uid (11i4 These frames are pivotallv mounted on suitahle supports so as lo oseillale through a small are. 'l`he lower ends oll the l'ornard swing frame. (ttl are eonueeled hv suital'le means, as hy thrust hars (7u i7 lo the strapsl (L) ('21. Soekets (Zl) ou the side straps reeeive the ends ol' the. thrust hars. 'l`he lor er ends' oli the rear trame (El) are similartv eonneeted to the straps (2) ("3) hvtln` thrust hars- (n) (ist stepped in the :'-o1.'l\1els (Ql'l. rVlie rear scraper van he mounted at lheeud o' the side strap as shown in dotted. lines in Vig. It, so that the seraper will eornmenee its stroke elose to l he haek end oli tue graineiw ith little or no elearanre and remore all the salt therel'roui. A\ parailel motion meehanism is thus produeed, its lower memliers hein;I the pull ing' straps (2) (2) and its upper memlers lieiug the tension eahles (5) (at. l prel'er to use two tension eahles as shown in Vies. 1; and 123, hut one or more than lino may lve vused il' desired. 'l`he power lo move the Vaker haek and l'orth may lie applied lo one or holrh olI the swing' l'ranies in aniv suilahle manner.

()n. the. workingr or l'orward stroke the pullingstraps (2) (2) are drawn l'orward and carryingV with them the haek thrust hars (s) (S), swine' the lower end otlhe l'rame (lt) lfor ward and its' upper end haek. 'l`he l'ahles (5) (5) pull the upper end o1' lln` l'rame ((3) haek, swingingr its lower end l'orward 'lhe lrout thrust hars (T) (T) move l'orward willi the .straps (2) (2). 'l`here is no stress in the eahles due lo moving' the load on the llorward stroke. (hi the haek or l'ealhernuf stroke the thrust hars (7) (T), swine; l'rame ((3), eahles (5) (5). l'rame (tt) and hart'- (si (s) operate lo draw the taker into position l'or a new working; stroke.

- and discharge it over the front end.

a t ponent of the thrust is utilized in yieldingly pressing the straps (2) (2) down upon the trae-ksl (3). This yielding downward pressure of the thrust hars on the side straps, together with the tension keeps the straps normally in line like two taut strings, and although pressed snugly down upon their tracks or guides they slide lengthwise freely and easily. lhere is sulleient downward pressure to prevent. the serapers l'rorn lifting, yet net enough to permit them lo gouge into er abra-de the grainer hottom.

To deliver the salt u p the ineline a lierwardlyr extendingr memher (10) Ol' angle or other suitahle eross-seetion eapahle ol' transmittingrv endwise thrust is secured to the side straps near eaeh thrusthar (7) and to the l'ront end oll eaeh nieniher (10) is pivotalluv secured a forwardlyv extending section (11) adapted to travel up the ineline. Scrapers are mounted on, this hinged seetion as is indieated in Figs. 1 and 2, to push the salt up .l prel'er to support and e'uide the l'ront section (1l) hy extending' the traek (3) up the ineline, liaeiir;- it with steel to prevent wear, and permitting' the ends oll the seetion (l1) to slide vup and down thereon.

ltrom the ahove description it will he seen that` the side straps (2) ("2) are normally held straight and parallel with eaeh other, and tuiless pushed out ol' plaee hv soiue outside torce would remain so. lut to prevent their heingf :weidentallv pushed out of line, l. provide eollars (1") on the pivots (1)`, to hear against the housingr (1) ill the. strap nieves in. lhe seraper (1) thus aets as a distance. pieee hetween the two side straps.

ltor longitudinal adjustment oll the pivot. (1") on the seraper (1), l provide a slotted holt hole in the tlange oll the pivot (11). New wooden `framers t'reqneulltv shrink in width and have to he tightened hy wedgrine' l'rom the outside. liene'thwise adjustment olI the pivots (1") will take eare ollv a ('ertain amount ol' sueh shrinkage, hut to permit lurlher adjustment without eutting the serapers l have invented a traek that is itsellI adjustal te in width. Any suitahle laterally adjuslahle guides ma)r he employed hut l 'lind the l'ollowine' eonstrueti' n satisl'aetory. l'alse or removahle trai-l, or guide (3) Ishown in Figs. t) and 15, is weured inside the traek when the raker is Vlirst installed.

liront time to time, as the grainer shrinks in i lonehes the end olI th(` serapers.

'lhe swinging movement o( the trames is eonverted into a horizontal pull on the side straps hy the forwardly exlendixur thrust hars (7,) and the htu'ikwardllv extending' thrust hars (8) while tht'l vertit-al mann width7 the pivots (1) are set haek on the seraper until the side ot the traek. ('C') nearl \r 'lhe l'alse traek is then removed and the pivots (l) extended. 'giving ample elearanee h'etwiien the trat-k l-) and the end oll the 'l`o take eare ol' a lare-e amount ol' shrinkage l sometimes` make 'the serapers themselves exl'ensihle, lir. 1() shows sueh a 'lhe transverse har, which is eonslruel ion.

of angle 'iron or other suitable form is cut shorter than the distance between the side straps, vand is provided at one end with a telescoy ing extension (11), preferably bolted to it, t e bolt holes in one or both members being slotted to permit adjustment.` The blade (le) on the member (1d) overlaps the blade ('le) on the member ll) to preserve continuity ofthe scraper when extended.

What l claim as my invention and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is:

1. In a raker for grainersl the combination of an 'oscillating frame near each end of the grainer; tension cables connecting the upper ends of said frames; forwardly extending thrust bars secured to the lower end of one frame, and rearwardly extending thrust bars secured to the lower end of the. other frame g a l tension strap at each side of the grainer connecting thel extremities of a forward and a rearward thrust bar; scraper-blades transverse the grainer and pivotally supported by said straps; suitable guides supporting said side straps; and means for imparting back and forth movement to the serapers.

2. In a salt raker operated by back and forth movement andl having longitudinal tension members and scraping blades carried thereby; a pivotally supported oscillating frame near each end of the raker adapted to swing back and forth through a small arc; thrust bars connecting the lower ends of said frames to the tension members, and cables connecting the upper ends of the frames wherebyr tension is maintained in said tension members.

3. ln a salt raker operated by back and forth movement and having longitudinal tension members and scraping blades carried thereby; a pivotally supported oscillating l'raiii'e near each end ol' the raker adapted to swiiig'back and forth through a small are; thrust liars iconnecting the lower ends of said frames to the tension members, and means connecting the upper ends of the frames, whereby tension is maintained in said tension members.

4. lin a salt raker operating by back and l'orth movement and havingr longitudinal tension members and scraping blades carried thereby; a pivotally supported oscillatingr frame. near each endvol the raker adapted to swing back and forth through a small are; means connecting the lower ends.of said frames to the raker and ine'ans connecting the upper ends olA the trames whereby ten-- sion is maintained in the tension members.

5, ln a raking machine having side. straps and scrapers carried thereby, means for maintaining tension and yieldingr downward pressure.` in the side straps ol the machine, coin irlsmgr a pair ol' lorwardly and downwardly extending bars near the front cnd ol' the i'aker and aV pair of rearwardly and downwardly extending liars near the rear end bers and maintain them constantly under tension.

7. ln a salt raker a pair of swinging fi'aiiies; tension cables connecting them; a back-and forth reciprocating raking mech- `anism comprising side members carrying i scraping devices and Ameans connecting s@ said frames and raking mechanism whereby longitudinal tension is maintained in said members during the back-and-forth move` nient thereof.

R, In a rakerof the class described a pair of 35 sidestraps, longitudinal guides supporting the side straps transverse feathering scrapers i carried by, the side straps; bars at each end of the side straps adapted to exert' thrust t'o produce tension in the side straps 90 and to hold them yieldingly )ressed down upon the guides and means ior producing thrust in said bars.

f). l'n al raker for grainers, a pair of side straps adapted to back-and-forth reciproeating n'ioveinent; Scrapers o )eratcd thereby; means at both ends of said side straps to maintain tension therein during the baek and-forth movement of said side straps and ada )ted to actuate the sid'e straps on their 100 back stroke, said actuating means being adapted to permit the side straps to travel clear to the end of the grainer near its bottoni to remove the material therefrom.

l0. In a raker of the class described having side straps and swinging frames; cupped sockets on the lower end of the swinging frame; bars having their upper ends engaged in said sockets; and sockets on the side straps of the raker adapted to receive the lower 11o ends of said bars.

l1. A salt raker comprising a pair of tracks, side members supported on the tracks, feathering scraper blades carried by the side members, actuating means, and elements carried by the actuatingr means and engaging the side members for reciprocating the latter' and for pressing them yieldinglyl against the tracks while imparting reeiprocatory motion thereto. Y

12. ln a salt raker a pair of flat side straps, housingscarried by said side straps; flanges on said housings projecting beyond the edges of said side straps; transverse scraping blades; pivots mounted oii said blades toen- 125 gage said housings; and flanges on said blades to engage the flanges on the housings.

13. ln a i'aker for grainers having submerged tracks and straps sliding thereon a scia'ipcr comprising an Lshaped member ex- 130 tending erosswise the grainer in proximity to its bottom; pivots` projeetin f lengthwise beyond the ends of said L-sliaped member; housings carried by said straps for maintaining the pivots; and projecting [langes on i said housings to engage the horizontal [lange j nallv oi the gramer and beneath the liquid of the L-shaped member.

14. In a reciprocating salt raker, scraping blades extending transverse the grainer: pivots secured to the ends of lsaid blades lor supporting them, said )ivots being adjustable lengthwise the blade. f

15. In a salt raker having feathr ring` Scrapers, pivots for supporting said scrapers, each of said pivots comprising a pin adapt-l to project longiti inallyf'rom the end ol' said scraper; a collar on said pivot, and means for adjusting the pivot lengthwise the scraper.

extending between the straps, the scraper comprising a vertical and a horizontal (lange, and pivots projecting from the ends of' the scraper substantially at' thcj juncture of the horizontal and vertical [langes and resting upon the straps, the bearing surface of' the supporting pivots being approximately in line with the center ot gravity of thc scraper.

Y17. The combination with a grainer, of a raker comprising straps extending longitudilevel of the brine in the grander, transversely extending leathering serapers supported on the straps'and means lor applying an actuating toreo direethy to the straps at points beneat h lhe liquirl'level and in the plane ol said si raps.

1X. A balanced seraperlor salt raliers comprising an angular blad(` consisting ol'l a Verieal and a horizontal llange, pivots projecting from the opposite ends ol" the scraper,

substautiall)y at the juneture ol" the horizon- 16. In a raker for grainers, ,the eombinai tion with a pair ol straps and means for ref eiproca-ting the same, of an angular scraper tal and vertieal llanges.

lp testimony whereol" vl allix my signature, iu presence ol" two witnesses. Y Y

GEORGE B. lVlljliCOX. \'\iitnesses:

.Minis (l. Hanson, l. M. llotoswnrrn. 

